Press Releases

Moss Landing, CA - DeepWater Desal (DWD) received a report of findings from Tenera Environmental Group for a multi-phase benthic habitat characterization study that was recently completed and included a comprehensive sea bed assessment of the intake and discharge locations for DWD's proposed desalination facility in Moss Landing.

The purpose of the study is to provide information on the habitats and biological communities in the vicinity of the intake and discharge locations and is a portion of a much larger Benthic Study currently underway. The results will be used in evaluating the potential impacts of DWD's Monterey Bay Regional Water Project (MBRWP) and is one of the required environmental studies being prepared for analysis under NEPA and CEQA.  The survey and resulting data is funded by DWD and will be submitted to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, the California Coastal Commission, and the California State Lands Commission for their consideration during the environmental review of the permit and lease applications for the MBRWP.

"We continue to believe science is the basis for an environmentally responsible project.  We were very happy with the findings of the ROV inspections," says Kim Adamson, DeepWater Desal General Manager.  She adds, "This study is just one of many studies we have completed and an important study required for completion of our permit and lease applications."

According to John Steinbeck of Tenera, marine biology consultant for the DWD project, the assessment found that the intake location was almost entirely comprised of soft sediments, while the discharge location was 100% soft sediment. The ROV survey did not detect any habitat, such as rocky reef habitat, that might support diverse or abundant communities of organisms. The soft bottom habitat at the two locations is common throughout California and particularly in this part of the Monterey Bay.   

DWD contracted with Marine Applied Research and Exploration (MARE) to conduct the ROV survey and sampling.  MARE, a nonprofit organization founded in 2003, works collaboratively with state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and other non-governmental organizations. To date, MARE has documented over 2,700 kilometers of seafloor off California's coast alone—much of which had never been viewed before.  The Final Technical Report of Survey Results titled Desalination Plant Site Assessment can be reviewed on the DWD website at https://www.deepwaterdesal.com/reports-and-publications.htm.

DWD's MBRWP will consist of a desalination facility, capable of producing up to 25,000 acre-feet of high quality potable water annually, and a co-located seawater cooled data center.  The facility will supply potable water to agencies in both Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. 

For more information about DWD visit www.deepwaterdesal.com.